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Friday, December 06, 2013

STABLE NOTES - Thursday, December 5

Rosalind and Untapable, the top two contenders in Saturday’s $500,000-guaranteed Hollywood Starlet Stakes at 1 1-16 miles on Cushion Track, have completed their preparations for the Grade I.

Trained by Ken McPeek, who won last year’s Starlet with Pure Fun, Rosalind worked four furlongs in company with stablemate Rankhasprivileges Dec. 3 at Betfair Hollywood Park. They worked heads up, each earning a clocking of 49 seconds.

“Rosalind went perfectly,” said Danny Ramsey, exercise rider and assistant to McPeek. “Just what we wanted.”

The Broken Vow filly comes off a sharp third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 2, beaten by a half-length. Joel Rosario once again will be aboard.

Untapable worked the same distance a day earlier at Santa Anita in 49 2/5 seconds. The drill was termed “breezing’’ by the clockers.

Untapable was eased in the BC Juvenile Fillies after encountering severe trouble into the far turn. In her previous start Sept. 7, she won the Grade II Pocahontas at Churchill Downs, defeating, among others, Rosalind. The Tapit filly is trained by Steve Asmussen and will be ridden by Joe Talamo.

Unbridled’s Note, also trained by Asmussen, worked four furlongs Dec. 2 in 49 4/5. The son of Unbridled’s Song, a close fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Nov. 2, is entered in Sunday’s $100,000 Hollywood Turf Express.

Tamarando, winner of the Grade III Hollywood Prevue Stakes Nov. 10, worked a half-mile in 48 3/5. Shared Belief, who won his first two starts by a combined 14 3-4 lengths, including an effortless victory in the Real Quiet Stakes Nov. 23. The Candy Ride gelding went six furlongs in 1:12 3/5, the best of 20 works at the distance.

COMMEMORATIVE PIN CELEBRATES GRADE I HOLLYWOOD STARLET

A limited edition commemorative pin honoring the Hollywood Starlet will be handed out Saturday - one per paid admission while supplies last.

The $500,000 Starlet was presented for the first time in 1981. The Grade I event will have its 33rd and final running Saturday.

The stakes record for the Starlet is 1:40 2/5, set in 2007 by Country Star, who was trained by the legendary Bobby Frankel and ridden by Rafael Bejarano.

With seven victories, D. Wayne Lukas holds the top spot among trainers in the Starlet.

Corey Nakatani has ridden a record four winners. All four of his victories came in the
1990’s, including three consecutive (1994-1996). Nakatani has the call on Sharp Cat Stakes winner Arethusa in this year’s renewal.

The Starlet has been wide-open in recent years. Nine different jockeys have won the last 10 runnings.

EGG DROP RETURNS WELL, PLANS STILL UNCERTAIN

Phil D’Amato, assistant to Mike Mitchell, reported that Egg Drop, game winner of the Grade I Matriarch Dec. 1, came back in great shape.

“You would have thought that such a hard race would have taken something out of her,” said D’Amato. “The truth is, when she came back, she didn’t even look like she ran.

“They haven’t decided on plans yet for next year. They don’t know whether to sell her, breed her, or race her in 2014.”

Third-place finisher Tiz Flirtatious also returned none the worse for wear.

“Her last two races were disappointing, in that things didn’t work out,” said trainer Marty Jones. “But she’s a special horse. We’ll give her some time off and then see about next year.”

PICK SIX SATURDAY PLUS TWO SEMINARS ON STARLET DAY

As usual, Saturday is Pick Six Saturday at Betfair Hollywood Park.

The sequence covers races 4-9 and will have a guaranteed pool of $150,000. If the pool exceeds $200,000, $1 Happy Hour specials will be offered at Whittingham’s Pub and Betfair Players’ Lounge.

If there is a single winner in the Pick Six and the ticket is purchased either on track or through TVG (Television Games Network) a bonus of a new Prius—courtesy of Toyota of Orange—will be awarded.

Before racing begins, jockey Fernando Perez will be the guest of co-hosts Michael Burns and George Ortuzar on the Escogiendo Ganadores (Picking Winners) session.

The Spanish-language handicapping seminar will be offered every Saturday during the final Autumn meet, which continues through Sunday, Dec. 22.

A former riding champion at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver and a recent arrival to Southern California, Perez will discuss his career with Burns and Ortuzar as well as the Betfair Hollywood Park card, including the Grade II, $150,000 Bayakoa Stakes and the Grade I, $500,000-guaranteed Hollywood Starlet.

Escogiendo Ganadores begins at 11 a.m. at the Paddock Tote Board.

Getting underway at 11:30 at the same location will be he next Hollywood Insider.
One of the analysts from Television Games Network (TVG) will host the informative seminar, which will feature special guests, plus handicapping tips, insights and other last minute information regarding the afternoon’s races.

CLOSING STRIDES—Jockey Alonzo Quinonez has been cleared to ride after recovering from injuries sustained during the Barretts Sales Racing meet Sept. 22. Quinonez, who turned 30 Nov. 13, suffered a hairline fracture of his tailbone. He’s scheduled to pilot Warren’s Assassin for trainer Jorge Gutierrez in Friday’s second race……. Spotted on Cushion Track Dec. 1 was Zenyatta’s half-sister Eblouissante, who worked five furlongs in 1:00 3/5. Trainer John Shirreffs is unsure of her next start…..A reminder that Fridays are Fiesta Fridays at Betfair Hollywood Park, with Happy Hour drink specials and Mexican munchies offered……..A wealth of free information, including live racing, video replays, and news and notes, are available free on the Igo Racing app, available on Iphone and Android devices………Just seven of the original 1,714 players are still alive in the $2,500 winner-take-all Show Me the Money contest.